Penner marked the occasion by purchasing a fishing licence at Robinson'sOutdoor Store in Victoria, B.C.'s first e-licence-equipped vendor."Freshwater anglers will now have a greater range of choices about how,where and when they purchase their fishing licences," said Penner."Resident anglers and out-of-province visitors will now be able accesslicences and fishing information online before they head out for theirnext great B.C. fishing adventure."

Under the new e-licensing system, developed in partnership with ServiceBC and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, anglers can purchasetheir basic freshwater fishing licence, classified water permit orconservation stamps through any computer with Internet access or fromany e-licence-equipped vendor.

While the online system has been operational since Sept. 6, 2007,government has been working with Robinson's in Victoria and HighwaterTackle in North Vancouver through the fall to pilot the new system forvendors.

During the transition period, anglers can still purchase traditionalpaper licences from their favourite tackle shop. In addition to givinganglers greater choice and flexibility about how they obtain licences,the new system will greatly improve the efficiency of the freshwaterlicensing system and provide government with better information aboutrecreational effort and angler preferences. This information will beused to help ensure that recreational fishing programs and lake andstream stocking activities are tailored to meet angler demand.Anglers can purchase fishing licences at www.fishing.gov.bc.ca/ or atone of one of four e-licence-equipped vendors. More e-licence-equippedvendors will be added to the system during the next several months.-30-

Media contact:Kate ThompsonMedia Relations250 953-4577

John ThorntonManager, Data and LicensingFish and Wildlife Branch250 387-9776

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